Nov 25, 2025

Greetings,

Happy First Sunday of Advent!

This Sunday we begin the first day of the new liturgical year and, as such, begin the story of salvation history once again. We really don’t begin the preparations for the imminent coming of Jesus in Bethlehem until December 17. This first part of Advent, we are actually preparing ourselves for the Second Coming of Christ.

As a Church, there are noticeable things that take place at Mass. The priest wears purple, which marks our anxious waiting for the coming of the Messiah Who will save us from our sins. The Gloria is not sung simply because, at least liturgically, Jesus is not yet born, so the angels have not yet sung this glorious song of praise. The flowers and plants have been removed from the Church and moved over to the Greenhouse, where we are able to maintain them until they are needed again. And there is the Advent Wreath in our sanctuary to help us mark the time passing until we celebrate the birth of the God Child.

At home, you may have some extra prayers and observances. Perhaps you have an Advent Wreath or an Advent Calendar. Maybe you just mark the season with extra prayers. For practical reasons, your home may move almost directly into Christmas mode, but find a time to mark this quieter, more reflective and often trampled over season of Advent. Let your heart yearn for Him Whose heart yearns for you.

CONCERTS:

AT NOON ON TUESDAYS DURING ADVENT ADORATION AND ORGAN RECITAL: Well that just about says it all. Every Tuesday during Advent it is our tradition to have local organists come and give a recital at St. Sebastian at noon. These short concerts (usually around half an hour) take place during adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and as such, there is no applause or announcements of any kind except maybe a polite clapping of appreciation at the very end. When the Angelus bells ring, the organist will begin until he or she has run through the program for the day.

These noon recitals are, of course, free and open to the public. It is a fantastic way to put your mind and soul in the Advent mood! I hope that you are able to join. The first concert will be this Tuesday with Hunter Peterson at the mighty pipe organ.

GLORIA . . . MUSIC OF THE SEASON: To help make the transition from Advent to Christmas will be our annual Christmas concert. The members of our outstanding Parish Adult Choir will be joined by a small orchestra and guest soloists. The featured piece will be Antonio Vivaldi’s “Gloria.”

PRELUDE OF CAROLS: One of my favorite Masses of the year is our Christmas Midnight Mass (which takes place at midnight for those who might ask.) This solemn liturgy will be preceded by anthems and carols by our talented St. Sebastian musicians, who will be supported by our beloved Schantz organ and other instruments. This festival of music will begin at 11pm, an hour before the Mass.

God bless,
Fr. Valencheck